Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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The 4th annual Goleta Valley of Chamber of Commerce–hosted Legislative Summit on 9/11 focused on the drought, the minimum wage, Goleta Beach, and Measure M, with commentary from Assemblymember Das Williams, Supervisor Janet Wolf, Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider, Goleta Mayor Michael Bennett, and Goleta Water District President Bill Rosen. Bennett called the Water District a “poster child” for its handling of resources, and Williams suggested more rebates for brown lawns.

The panelists spoke in favor of raising the minimum wage, with Schneider countering the moderator’s opposition by noting automated technologies’ effect on jobs. Bennett and Wolf cited the progress made on Goleta Beach’s future, and Wolf circled back to the minimum wage issue by calling the park “a place for people to come who may not have the money to have a pool or a country club membership.” Of Measure M and overall infrastructure spending, Williams said investments — including in higher education — matter: “We have to decide as a society, ‘Are we going to be a crumbling empire, or are we going to be on the rise?’”